Jamie Redknapp: Owen Coyle's Bolton transformation deserves Cup glory

11 April 2011 01:16

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WALKING TALL AGAINPerformance of the weekend goes to Tottenham striker Peter Crouch. There is no worse feeling in football than letting down your team-mates and Crouch would have suffered a dreadful week after his red card in Madrid. Two goals against Stoke at White Hart Lane showed his quality. His defensive display showed his heart.

KING COYLEBolton are the most improved club in the country. Manager Owen Coyle has given them direction, focus and purpose. Daniel Sturridge has made a difference too; shame he's cup-tied for the FA Cup semi-final. Bolton are favourites, Stoke are a team who have lost their last seven away from the Britannia.

Turnaround: Owen Coyle has transformed the fortunes of Bolton

ANYTHING BUT DEAD More from Jamie Redknapp. Jamie Redknapp's Weekend Watch: Hodgson is a decent, honest, top coach03/04/11 Jamie Redknapp: Wilshere and Parker are made for each other27/03/11 Jamie Redknapp's weekend watch: Another late show from Man United20/03/11 Jamie Redknapp's weekend watch: It is time for retrospective rulings06/03/11 Jamie Redknapp: How I was nailed by West Ham's new Hammer, Hitzlsperger24/02/11 Jamie Redknapp: I'm proud to say I was there to see Rooney's goal 13/02/11 Jamie Redknapp: Newcastle's main man Barton is talk of the Toon06/02/11 Jamie Redknapp: Will Suarez play alongside or instead of Torres?29/01/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE When you are down in the Premier League drop zone, you are expected to scrap. West Bromwich are looking towards safety with a different approach, full of crisp, confident passing. They beat Sunderland with two terrific goals at the Stadium of Light, after trailing 2-1. West Bromwich manager Roy Hodgson has taken them to 39 points and, surely, to safety.

A YOUNG GIGGS?Ashley Young looks better every time I see him. He has electric pace and dribbles with his head up; he looks a future Manchester United player to me, and an ideal replacement for Ryan Giggs. Aston Villa will have to cash in on the England winger in the summer rather than let him go on a free next season.

WELCOME GARYI have a new sidekick on Sky next season, with my old England team-mate Gary Neville joining us from the 'safety' of Old Trafford. I am thrilled: Gary is a class act, a terrific and highly undervalued footballer. It's never easy hanging up your boots but the key decision is your next move. He's made a good choice.

THAT'S GOT TO HURTLosing Kevin Doyle to an injury suffered playing for the Republic of Ireland is a cruel and potentially fatal blow for Wolves. I couldn't see them going down but they are missing their centre forward and they were very short against Everton. That's seriously bad timing for manager Mick McCarthy.

International curse: Kevin Doyle was injured playing for the Republic of Ireland

FEELING BLACKAt times, Blackpool's football is as good as Arsenal's. Ian Holloway's side play with courage and daring and neutrals will want them to survive. Four of their remaining six games in the Premier League will be played at Bloomfield Road, which will give Holloway and his team a good chance of staying up, but if they keep conceding cheap goals they will go down. I hope not.

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